Ridecamp: RE: Re[2]: [RC] Pre-Ride VC Issues and a few others

What Roger is saying, and I have been ranting about for
years is, we have some very good concise rules. We have some
very definitive rules. We have one of the shortest set of
rules in any competitive sport.

WE NEED TO ADHERE TO THESE RULES! WE NEED TO TAKE THESE
RULES AT THEIR FACE VALUE AND ENFORCE THEM! WE NEED TO STOP
AND THINK ABOUT THESE RULES AND WHY WE ARE TRYING TO
CIRCUMVENT THEM!

Is that all that hard to understand?

Bob

Bob Morris
Morris Endurance Enterprises
Boise, ID

-----Original Message-----
From: ridecamp-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:ridecamp-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of Roger
Rittenhouse
Sent: Wednesday, June 12, 2002 3:47 PM
To: ridecamp; Truman Prevatt
Subject: Re[2]: [RC] Pre-Ride VC Issues and a few others



 Part 2

The next issue occurred at a ride where a rider was
'permitted' to RO out
for a 'violation' of Rule13 the drug rule.
The horse was in a blood test program - with blood samples
taken by a vet.

The rider was permitted to see the results. The original
'pull' was defined under Rule13 -
as invasive procedures ie a blood test was taken, then
changed to the
rider saw the blood test results.
 No where in our rules is this addressed.
It is NOT against the rules to do this. One could try to
interpret
Rule13 to make it apply ,but it clearly has nothing to with
letter
or the intent of Rule13

 The rider took the RO - I assume the rider would have been
pulled if not choosing to do so. Pressure and intimation as
well as
the rider not wanting to make waves resulted in this
unjust and
questionably illegal action by a vet. I called it abuse of
authority.

The final position-decision  is it gave the rider an unfair
advantage. Discount
the fact the rider was able to see just how his horse was
doing and could
adjust the ride in the best interest of the horse. A real
good point
to me.
Many rides/vets offer blood tests before during and after.
As long as ALL riders
had the option to the blood test, this should not have been
an issue.
 Actually I do not even see that as an issue.
While a number of you (Bob M) will disagree with me I see NO
problem or
violation of ANY rule that prevents me or anyone taking a
blood sample
to measure a blood parameter - such as glucose.

Rule13 applies to DRUGGING the horse to gain increased
performance.
Nothing is mentioned about using a blood analysis to help
evaluate the
horse and yes adjust your ride program - protocol to
continue with the
race/ride. I see it as a for the benefit of the horse.

If this is a real issue and it just may well be, since a few
riders
may now have a vet on their team and a portable blood
analyzer unit.
We just may see this at more high level rides. I personally
do NOT
have a problem with that process.
If AERC wants to restrict the use of blood analysis during a
ride, they
must pass a rule to prevent this, NOT use some self
interpretation of
another rule not written to cover an other different  issue.

We have NO rule against riders or team/crew vets TAKING a
blood sample for analysis.
If you  believe that to be wrong then we need to say so in
our rules. It
would fit under RULE 13.
Of course this would have the effect of stopping ALL studies
and
research at rides.  NO one would be allowed to take a blood
sample at
any time EXCEPT the DRUG TEST personal.

THE LEVEL PLAYING FIELD DEFENSE
It has nothing to do with a level playing field. Anyone can
hire a vet
and take blood samples - if you can afford it. KNOWING the
stats of
the blood chemistry provides additional information to help
the rider
take better care of the horses. I seriously doubt anyone
doing this is
going to 'drug' their horse based on the analysis. They MAY
change the
elytes. MAY increase glucose sources. They MAY go faster and
forbid it
they MAY slow down.

Level playing field is an old abused reason for many ills.
It does not
exist. I really want the field tilted in MY favor.
ALL WITHIN THE LETTER AND INTENT of the RULES OF ENGAGEMENT.
 Level the field -then  We should
eliminate ALL devices - special shoes - saddles - what ever
MAY give someone a
competitive advantage. Make sure they eat the same. etc..
 Ridiculous..
In this sport you win ( as in race to first place) BECAUSE
you have a
competitive advantage. You ride better, take better care of
your
horse, do your conditioning and feeding to aide your horse
and
monitor his performance during a ride,  by intuitive and
other means
  ( tools - HRM - stereoscope,  hands, 'feel'  crews - a
personal
vet/shoer etc) are we limit access to anything that one
rider can
obtain and another cannot - or chooses not to use?

This is not NASCAR, We do not all start out equal.


This latest round of rule interpretations and application is
just
another example of the changes in our sport.

Other disciplines have an assortment of Rule managers -
stewards - rule
interpreters, ground juries- protest judges etc. These
personal on site
at the events insure the rules are followed, by ALL
involved,
competitors and judges.

No one is above the law or rules.
We have a problem within AERC , a   number of members place
them self
above the Bylaws and our rules. It is not limited to just
the vets.

I bring these issues to the public for discussion.
I do not really expect any action from members nor the BOD

Roger Rittenhouse



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=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
 Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net.
 Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=